California Assembly Bill AB2177 Amended / Bill

 BILL NUMBER: AB 2177AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 17, 2016 INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Maienschein FEBRUARY 18, 2016 An act  to add Section 13835.9 to the Penal Code,  relating to victims of crime. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 2177, as amended, Maienschein. Victims of crime: federal Victims of Crime Act.   Act funding: advisory committee.   Existing law requires the Office of Emergency Services to make available various funds to programs that provide supportive services to the victims of crime.   This bill would establish the Victims of Crime Act Funding Advisory Committee, composed of 17 specified members who are appointed by, and serve at the pleasure of, the Governor. The bill would require the office to seek the recommendation of the committee regarding the distribution of funds received by the state pursuant to the federal Victims of Crime Act, also known as VOCA, before make a distribution, of any kind, of those funds. The bill would specifically require the committee to comply with Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act.   Existing law encourages the Department of Justice to utilize federal Victims of Crimes Act (VOCA) funds to implement provisions of law relating to the Spousal Abuser Prosecution Program.   This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation regarding the transparency of the Office of Emergency Services' distribution process for federal Victims of Crime Act grant funding.  Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee:  no   yes  . State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:  SECTION 1.   Section 13835.9 is added to the   Penal Code   , to read:   13835.9. (a) The Office of Emergency Services shall seek the recommendation of the Victims of Crime Act Funding Advisory Committee, established by this section, regarding the distribution of funds received by the state pursuant to the federal Victims of Crime Act, also known as VOCA, before make a distribution, of any kind, of those funds. (b) (1) The Victims of Crime Act Funding Advisory Committee is hereby established within the Office of Emergency Services and shall be composed of the following 17 members who are appointed by, and serve at the pleasure of, the Governor: (A) One member who represents law enforcement. (B) Eight members who have been a victim of a crime. (C) Eight members who represent the interests of organizations that specialize in providing services to the victims of crime. (2) The committee shall elect a chairperson from its membership. (3) The members shall serve without compensation. (4) The committee shall comply with the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act (Article 9 (commencing with Section 11120) of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code).   SECTION 1.   It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation regarding the transparency of the Office of Emergency Services' distribution process for federal Victims of Crime Act grant funding.